The PWM solar charge controller is extremely noisy on HF while charging. Im using a Genesun MPPT solar charge controller which is smaller than your PWM version, but doesn't make any radio noise. I use the Genesun with a PowerFilm 20w solar panel, and 10Ah LiFePO4 battery. It all works really well. Thanks for sharing, and keep the videos coming.
Thank you. Very informative and well-presented. Your video acquainted me the fundamentals of solar power portable operation. Thank you for taking the time to assist those starting out with this setup. Wishing you much success in future videos. 73
I have just bought a new radio (FT-817ND) for portable use and the power supply is the most important part for me. This video is excellent and I am now in the process of getting all the parts to copy your setup. Thank you so much for explaining what is needed and how it all works. 73 M6KVK (Gary)
Thank you for your valuable feedback. I was QRV for 3 hours the other day, running 20W from a solar-powered system managed by this controller. Some times I was also transmitting with 100W. No issues whatsoever.
Hey Phi, thanks for all the help the other day. I now have the same setup here and am going to start playing with it soon. Hope to work you on the bands one day. Thanks again for doing the videos!Jr...NX0P
I am using a 50 watt mono panel and deep cycle lead acid for my emergency go box. I also have a 100w panel I hook in parallel when running power. No problems using a 20 amp controller. I recommend using a 20a controller on 10 a loads.......Cheap ones generate their own RFI when loaded down... KC0ZQB said that...73's
Μήπως μπορείς να μου δώσεις από που εδώ στην Ελλάδα μπορούμε να αγοράσουμε αυτά τα 3 κομμάτια ? Θέλω να βάλω ένα φορητό VHF 10W για το χρησιμοποιώ σαν Repeater. Τι μου προτείνεις να βάλω ? Ευχαριστώ.
I think it's this one: www.ebay.com/itm/Solar-sunpower-18W-12V-Portable-charger-f-boat-outdoor-phone-hiking-camping-mp3/253978430331?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item3b224b4b7b:g:atkAAOSwnQhXpGWg&enc=AQADAAAB8KX%2FKt4E1xf3SDqEdBclaYa%2By7i48OOJte6ug%2F6Z%2FJn5T%2F1uOf%2BlW60t9YTwf9xJyth1HKU4ych657UKnBL%2F46iMKIr6AmWBC8VFidmldJtHd%2FZnB5G2mu%2BpvNmXQCAUqPE4hSORn3XRO9EkdcCbmZ5B4znE4aiS9QlXkCGFgzqs1vFAd%2B41kB2YJhxJKbFxC0beuZX9VeVpOpVil1wnDCXf2KxWYN%2F7Lw9hH5%2BfYG8sS9fzKnS1jWjgX%2BIq%2BvRzgYhF4otn7oJTE4bxhAsG5t1US7jnDFDcZ6VPogY8M4Y2HfoeLbdD71qcTiaVlXUajEaOWGYr7DCpT9krqcIFKN0fbio9WKB50MIErQxMMJMJyj0pbCHXD1phX0MR8B0YBXzcrH9ZfkSJ%2B3h3I1hc9%2BKk7Cqc6EAnrnyxxE%2FU%2Furaa84hOmYp4%2FIbQSXdEftg%2Fo8q8CUAAOsVL4Afw%2B9%2BoRq0y%2BZohhPVyvECHQShOfCLvKDudmZi0TGI%2BkIqWZkD2RLY54in%2FOLE1H5jOKiwc8cFTi7my5UDMTqsXUkpE1J6A%2FTb48Xo45B7L5F9xrK9FETKBQ15nE8lP2W7n1tRIm%2F3LFerFLcwCCkIxANsmaneLFE323Dv7Tgbob84G5B%2BA%2BraDV9j%2FUa5NpAmEXSbVb4%3D&checksum=253978430331ab056ed35b874f32b49a442a8284ddff
It doesn't make sense to me that you *have* to have a battery: you said the battery actually drives the controller and gives the controller the ability to handle the current from the solar panel, and that's why the battery gets connected first. It would be more useful if the controller could be run off the panel, with no battery present, so that you could drive the load from the solar through the controller and not even have to carry a small battery to run the controller.
i agree would be nice to not have to have the battery....I wonder if this can be done? I guess one reason for battery would be if sun went behind a cloud the voltage would dip coming out of the controller and panels and might not be enough to run my radio.....this is where the battery would be of use as my radio would just run off it instead of the panels and controller. once sun came back out from behind a cloud then the battery wouldn't be in use anymore. Just a thought.
You should not do that, as the power from a solar panel is not constant. You cannot have 100% performance all the time as the sun moves, clouds could block it etc.
Yes, it would be more useful that way, but these charge controllers are not designed to operate that way. Connecting them without a battery will ruin them.
Think of the flow of electricity as like the flow of water. The flow of electricity from the solar panel is wildly variable depending upon sun positioning & weather, like the water flow from a rainfall runoff mountain creek. The flow of electricity from a battery is/can be relatively stable and constant, like the water flow from a reservoir control gate/valve. Electrical devices will have better reliability & longer lifespans when powered by sensibly regulated electrical supply compared to known hazards associated with power surges & random cutoffs. Too much direct power from the solar panel may/will blow out the battery or electronic device. So, while a simple induction motor (fan) could be connected directly to a raw power supply, don't hook up sensitive electronics (solar charge controller, battery, radio) to it. Solar panel = variable, uncontrolled, rainfall runoff Battery = stable, metered, reservoir output
The PWM solar charge controller is extremely noisy on HF while charging. Im using a Genesun MPPT solar charge controller which is smaller than your PWM version, but doesn't make any radio noise. I use the Genesun with a PowerFilm 20w solar panel, and 10Ah LiFePO4 battery.
It all works really well.
Thanks for sharing, and keep the videos coming.
I'm actually happy with this controller, no issues with RFI whatsoever. Thanks for the info, I will check it.
Thanks for the Controller info. I have been in the market for one. Hope all is well out your way!
How do you charge a LiFePO4 battery with this controller? I thought LiFePO4 batteries required special chargers.
Thank you. Very informative and well-presented. Your video acquainted me the fundamentals of solar power portable operation. Thank you for taking the time to assist those starting out with this setup. Wishing you much success in future videos. 73
I am very glad my video helped you, 73!
Congratulations. New subscriber. Thank you for this video. I am interested in solar power for emergencies.
Nice solar setup! Very portable and does the job. 73!
Thanks, 73!
Excellent video very informative.
Alan in England
Very well done. Concise, succinct and descriptive.
Thank you for your kind feedback!
I have just bought a new radio (FT-817ND) for portable use and the power supply is the most important part for me. This video is excellent and I am now in the process of getting all the parts to copy your setup. Thank you so much for explaining what is needed and how it all works. 73 M6KVK (Gary)
Glad you found it useful!
Gary Kirk IQ
Thank you for this very informative video. I will be referring to this video as I set up my QRP system.
Very good job on this. Keep up the good work. I really liked that controller and will be buying the 30 amp model.
Thanks. 73
Thank you for your valuable feedback. I was QRV for 3 hours the other day, running 20W from a solar-powered system managed by this controller. Some times I was also transmitting with 100W. No issues whatsoever.
Sir, thank you very much for your very informative video.
nice job..I'm using solar panels, and batteries here..73..Tim, VE6PG..
Hey Phi, thanks for all the help the other day. I now have the same setup here and am going to start playing with it soon. Hope to work you on the bands one day. Thanks again for doing the videos!Jr...NX0P
Sure, glad you liked it, 73!
Thank you.
Thank you new subscriber.👍
I am using a 50 watt mono panel and deep cycle lead acid for my emergency go box. I also have a 100w panel I hook in parallel when running power. No problems using a 20 amp controller. I recommend using a 20a controller on 10 a loads.......Cheap ones generate their own RFI when loaded down... KC0ZQB said that...73's
I agree. This is a 20A controller. Not getting any RFI from it, have been using it for about a year now.
Μήπως μπορείς να μου δώσεις από που εδώ στην Ελλάδα μπορούμε να αγοράσουμε αυτά τα 3 κομμάτια ? Θέλω να βάλω ένα φορητό VHF 10W για το χρησιμοποιώ σαν Repeater. Τι μου προτείνεις να βάλω ? Ευχαριστώ.
only just seen m6ltv 73 nigel
What brand name is that very handy panel?
google foldable solar panels on eBay or amazon there are millions of manufactures all from china
Who is the manufacturer of the foldable solar panel? Where did you purchase this solar panel?
google foldable solar panels on eBay or amazon there are millions of manufactures all from china
I think it's this one: www.ebay.com/itm/Solar-sunpower-18W-12V-Portable-charger-f-boat-outdoor-phone-hiking-camping-mp3/253978430331?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item3b224b4b7b:g:atkAAOSwnQhXpGWg&enc=AQADAAAB8KX%2FKt4E1xf3SDqEdBclaYa%2By7i48OOJte6ug%2F6Z%2FJn5T%2F1uOf%2BlW60t9YTwf9xJyth1HKU4ych657UKnBL%2F46iMKIr6AmWBC8VFidmldJtHd%2FZnB5G2mu%2BpvNmXQCAUqPE4hSORn3XRO9EkdcCbmZ5B4znE4aiS9QlXkCGFgzqs1vFAd%2B41kB2YJhxJKbFxC0beuZX9VeVpOpVil1wnDCXf2KxWYN%2F7Lw9hH5%2BfYG8sS9fzKnS1jWjgX%2BIq%2BvRzgYhF4otn7oJTE4bxhAsG5t1US7jnDFDcZ6VPogY8M4Y2HfoeLbdD71qcTiaVlXUajEaOWGYr7DCpT9krqcIFKN0fbio9WKB50MIErQxMMJMJyj0pbCHXD1phX0MR8B0YBXzcrH9ZfkSJ%2B3h3I1hc9%2BKk7Cqc6EAnrnyxxE%2FU%2Furaa84hOmYp4%2FIbQSXdEftg%2Fo8q8CUAAOsVL4Afw%2B9%2BoRq0y%2BZohhPVyvECHQShOfCLvKDudmZi0TGI%2BkIqWZkD2RLY54in%2FOLE1H5jOKiwc8cFTi7my5UDMTqsXUkpE1J6A%2FTb48Xo45B7L5F9xrK9FETKBQ15nE8lP2W7n1tRIm%2F3LFerFLcwCCkIxANsmaneLFE323Dv7Tgbob84G5B%2BA%2BraDV9j%2FUa5NpAmEXSbVb4%3D&checksum=253978430331ab056ed35b874f32b49a442a8284ddff
It doesn't make sense to me that you *have* to have a battery: you said the battery actually drives the controller and gives the controller the ability to handle the current from the solar panel, and that's why the battery gets connected first. It would be more useful if the controller could be run off the panel, with no battery present, so that you could drive the load from the solar through the controller and not even have to carry a small battery to run the controller.
i agree would be nice to not have to have the battery....I wonder if this can be done? I guess one reason for battery would be if sun went behind a cloud the voltage would dip coming out of the controller and panels and might not be enough to run my radio.....this is where the battery would be of use as my radio would just run off it instead of the panels and controller. once sun came back out from behind a cloud then the battery wouldn't be in use anymore. Just a thought.
You should not do that, as the power from a solar panel is not constant. You cannot have 100% performance all the time as the sun moves, clouds could block it etc.
Yes, it would be more useful that way, but these charge controllers are not designed to operate that way. Connecting them without a battery will ruin them.
Think of the flow of electricity as like the flow of water. The flow of electricity from the solar panel is wildly variable depending upon sun positioning & weather, like the water flow from a rainfall runoff mountain creek. The flow of electricity from a battery is/can be relatively stable and constant, like the water flow from a reservoir control gate/valve.
Electrical devices will have better reliability & longer lifespans when powered by sensibly regulated electrical supply compared to known hazards associated with power surges & random cutoffs.
Too much direct power from the solar panel may/will blow out the battery or electronic device.
So, while a simple induction motor (fan) could be connected directly to a raw power supply, don't hook up sensitive electronics (solar charge controller, battery, radio) to it.
Solar panel = variable, uncontrolled, rainfall runoff
Battery = stable, metered, reservoir output